Because fossil fuels are the best energy source, absolutely smashing the competition circa 1850 and still the top contender today.

If we found a comparable energy source today that checked all the same boxes as fossil fuels, sans climate change and plus energy density, we'd be all over it tomorrow.

But the energy usage increased dramatically. So it is possible that the usage of wind power and water power never declined much (it would be interesting to see data for this). A clearer case might be something like using animal power (for plowing and transportation) but I think this idea only applies to resources that have a ready and easy to expand supply.